Golf club iron covers

ABSTRACT

A golf club iron cover formed from a one-piece blank foldable along a fold-line, thereby forming a pair of sides, each side having a front, a rear, a top and a bottom portion. The sides are joined generally adjacent the front portions thereof, and the unconnected top portions and the unconnected rear portions of each side cooperate to form a receiving opening shaped to receive a portion of a golf club head inserted between the sides. A tab is detachably secured to the rear portions of the sides to affix the cover to a golf club iron.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Dunlap, Laney, Hessin & Daugherty ABSTRACT: A golf club iron cover formed from a one-piece blank foldable along a fold-line, thereby forming a pair of sides, each side having a front, a rear, a top and a bottom portion. The sides are joined generally adjiacent the front portions thereof, and the unconnected top portions and the unconnected rear portions of each side cooperate to form a receiving opening shaped to receive a portion of a golf club head inserted between the sides. A tab is detachably secured to the rear portions of the sides to afiix the cover to a golf club iron.

PATENTED JUL 20 Ian W MC GOLF CLUB IRON COVERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to golf club covers and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a golf club iron cover.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past there have been various covers adapted to protectively encompass a portion of a golf club, generally referred to in the art as golfclub head." Most ofthese golfclub covers have been of the type generally referred to in the art as a sock type. The sock type of golf club cover was generally constructed of a relatively large piece of material which was secured together in such a manner that the cover could be pulled-over or stretched over the golf club head. Some of these covers were provided with a so-called? fastener, generally comprising a drawstring which was tied about a portion of the golf club cover to secure the cover to the golf club.

Due to the shape of a golf club head, particularly with respect to golf clubs referred to in the art as irons," it has been extremely difficult to provide a cover which could be quickly and conveniently secured about the golf club head in a protectively encompassing manner. Golf club irons generally have a front or toe portion which is relatively larger, than the rear or heel portion thereof, and thus an access opening sized large enough to receive the toe portion of the golf club has been found to fit loosely about the golf club in an assembled position of the golf club and cover, thereby resulting in many instances where the golf club cover became inadvertently detached from the golf club head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a golf club cover to protectively encompass a substantial portion of thegolf club head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf club iron cover which is quickly and easily assembled in a secure manner about a substantial portion of the golf club head.

One additional object of the invention is to provide a golf club cover wherein the golf club reference numeral is readily observable in an assembled position of the cover and the golf club.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a golf club cover which can be quickly, easily and detachably secured to the golf club head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf club cover which is economical in construction and operation thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a one-piece blank utilized to form the golf club cover of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational, partially perspective view of the assembled golf club cover.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the golf club cover assembled about the head of a golf club iron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in general, and to FIG. 1 in particular, shown therein and designated by the general reference numeral 10 is a one-piece plank which is shaped to forrnthe golf club cover of the present invention, in a manner to be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. I, the blank 10 has a basically symmetrical shape with respect to a fold-line I2, thereby forming what is sometimes referredto below as a first side 14 and a second side 16.

The first side 14 and the second side 16 each include a top portion 18, a front portion 20, and a rear 'portion 22. As shown in FIG. 1, each top 18 slopes in a generally downwardly direction from the front 20 to the rear 22 of the respective side 14 and 16, each front portion 20 thus being of a relatively greater dimension than the respective rear portion 22. The portions of the blank 10, generally adjacent and on opposite sides of the fold-line 12, form a bottom portion 24 of each side 14 and 16. The bottom portions 24 of the first side 14 and the second side 16 are integrally and foldably connected, generally along the fold-line 12, for reasons which will be made more apparent below.

A tongue 26 is formed on a portion of the top 18 of the first side 14, generally adjacent the rear 22 thereof. The tongue 26, as shown in FIG. 1, extends a distance angularly, upwardly from the top 18 ofthe first side 14.

A tab 28 is formed on the upper end portion of the tongue 26, and extends a distance therefrom, as shown in FIG. 1. The tab 28 is sized and positioned on the blank 10 such that, in the assembled position of the golf club cover, the tab 28 can be detachably and securedly positioned about a portion of a golf club, generally adjacent the golf club head, thereby affixing the golf club cover to the golf club, in a manner to be made more apparent below.

A tongue 30 is formed on a portion of the top 18 of the second side [6, generally adjacent the rear 22 thereof. The tongue 30 extends a distance angularly, upwardly, from the top 18 of the second side 16, as shown in FIG. I.

A pair of fastener apertures 32 are formed in the first side 14 of the blank 10, generally adjacent the front 20 thereof. As shown in FIG. I, a pair of fastener apertures 34 are formed in .the second side 16, generally adjacent the front 20 thereof.

' the fold-line 12 to form the assembled golf club cover, the first side 14 can besecured to the second side 16 by a pair of fasteners, as will be described in greater detail below.

A fastener aperture 36 is formed in a portion of each tongue 26 and 30 of the blank 10, as shown in FIG. I. The fastener apertures 36 are disposed on the blank 10 such that when the blank 10 is folded generally along the fold-line 12, the tongue 26 of the first side 14 and the tongue 30 of the second side 16 can be secured in an assembled relationship via a fastener, in a manner to be made more apparent below. A fastener aperture 37 is formed in a portion of the tab 28, generally near the end of the tab 28 opposite the end thereof connected to the tongue 26. The fastener aperture 38 is sized to receive a detachable fastener, for reasons to be made more apparent below.

As mentioned above, the blank 10 is sized and shaped to form a golf club cover, the assembled! golf club cover being shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and designated therein by the reference numeral 38. The cover 38 and, more particularly, the blank 10 also includes a plurality of ribbed surfaces 39.

In a preferred form and as shown in FIG. ll, the blank 10 is die cut in one piece from a translucent vinyl, plastic material. In one form. for example, the blank 10 may be constructed of a vinyl, plastic material having a thickness of approximately 0.032 inch, and the ribs 39 may be formed thereon on 0. l 87- inch centers, and shaped to be approximately 0.0I-inch high by 0.0 1 -inch wide.

To form the golf club cover 38, the blank 10 is initially folded generally along the fold-line 12, to a position wherein the fastener apertures 32 of the first side 114 are generally aligned with the fastener apertures 34 of the second side ll6. In this position, the fastener apertures 36 in the tongues 26 and 30 will also be generally aligned.

A portion of the front 20 of the second side 16 is then secured to a portion of the front 20 of the first side 14 via a pair of fasteners 40. Each fastener 40 extends through one of the fastener apertures 32 and through the fastener aperture 34 aligned therewith.

The tongue 26 of the first side 14 is then secured to the tongue 30 of the second side 16 via a fastener 42, as shown in FIG. 2. A portion of the fastener 42 is adapted to be affixedly and detachably secured to a detachable fastener 44, which is secured through the fastener aperture 37 of the tab 28. A portion of the fastener 42 and a portion of the fastener 44 cooperate to provide what is commonly referred to in the art as a snap tap."

In the assembled position ofthe golf club cover 38, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first side 14 and the second side 16 are un- I connected generally along the top portions 18 of the first side 14 and the second side 16. The rear portions 22 of the first side 14 and the second side 16 are also unconnected, for reasons which will be made more apparent below.

The first side 14 and the second side 16 are, more particularly, sized and shaped such that, in the assembled position of the golf club cover 38, the unconnected top portions 18 and the unconnected rear portions 22 of the first side 14 and the second side 16 cooperate to provide a golf club head-receiving opening, designated in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the general reference numeral 46. The tongue 26 and the tongue 30 of the first side 14 and the second side 16, respectively, generally near the rear 22 of the first side 14 and the second side 16 are also sized and shaped such that, in the assembled position, the tongues 26 and 30 cooperate to provide an additional golf club head receiving opening, designated in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the general reference numeral 48. The additional receiving opening 48 cooperates with the receiving opening 46 to define a receiving opening sized and shaped to cooperate with the unconnected top portions 18 of the sides 14 and 16 to receive a golf club head which is inserted between the first side 14 and the second side 16, in a manner to be made more apparent below.

OPERATION OF FIGS. 1 THROUGH 3 The golf club cover 38 formed from the blank 10, in a manner described above, is adapted to receive and protectively encompass a substantial portion of a golf club head, and to be affixedly and detachably secured to a golf club in a quick, convenient and secure manner. As shown in FIG. 3, the golf club cover 38 has been assembled about a golf club head 50 of a golf club iron 52, the golf club iron 52 being shown in FIG. 3 in dashed-lines.

To assemble the golf club cover 38 about the golf club 52, the toe portion, designated in FIG. 3 by the reference 54, of the golf club 52 is initially inserted between the first side 14 and the second side 16 via the receiving openings 44 and 46. The golf club 52 is then moved between the first side 14 and the second sidel6 to an assembled position, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the heel portion, designated in FIG. 3 by the reference numeral 56, of the golf club 52 is disposed generally adjacent the rear portions 22 of the first side 14 and the second side 16.

As indicated in FIG. 3, and as generally known in the art, the toe portion 54 of a golf club iron is generally larger than the heel portion 56 thereof. The receiving openings 44 and 46, as mentioned before, are particularly sized to receive the larger dimensioned toe portion 54 of the golf club head 50. The unconnected top portions 18 of the first side 14 and the second side 16 cooperate to permit the larger toe portion 54 of the golf club head 50 to be moved between the first side 14 and the second side 16, to the assembled position in the golf club cover 38.

After the golf club cover 38 has been moved to an assembled position about the golf club head 50, the tab 28 of the first side 14 is wrapped about an adjacent portion of the golf club 52 generally near the golf club head 50 thereof. The tab 28 is then detachable and affixedly secured about the golf club 52 via the cooperating fasteners 42 and 44, thereby detachably securing the cover 38 to the golf club.

It will be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art, that the golf club cover 38 is constructed such that a golf club head can be inserted between the two sides'l4 and 16 thereof, and such that the major working or important head surfaces of a golf club iron are substantially, protectively encompassed by the cover 38, in a quick efficient and detachable manner. The detachable snap tab allows the cover 38 to be quickly and conveniently placed on or to be removed from the golf club, and yet the cover 38 is secured to the golf club in such a manner that the cover 38 will remain in an assembled position about the golf club head during a round of play, in transit, or in storage. The cover 38, in a preferred form, is constructed of a translucent material, as mentioned above, to allow the player to observe the reference numbers and inscriptions on the golf clubs, thereby assuring no hindrance in the players club selection.

The one-piece construction provided by the blank 10 is adapted such that the cover 38 can be efficiently. and economically constructed, and such that the cover 38 can be protectively utilized with right or left" handed golf clubs.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts or elements of the one embodiment as disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

lclaim:

1. A golf club iron cover formed from a one-piece blank, said cover having two sides, each of said sides having bottom, top, front and rear portions, said front portions being of a greater dimension than said rear portion, said top portion sloping downwardly from said front portion to said rear por tion, fastening means joining said sides adjacent to said front portion, said sides being unconnected along said top portion so that a golf club iron can be inserted between said sides, said sides being integrally and foldably connected at said bottom portions, said cover having tab means to detachably secure said rear portions together to affix said cover to a golf club iron.

2. A golf club iron cover, to protectively encompass a substantial portion of a golf club head, in an assembled position of the golf club cover, comprising:

a first side having a bottom, a top, a front and a rear portion;

a second side having a bottom, a top, a front and a rear portion, a portion of the front portion of the second side being secured to a portion of the front portion of the first side, a portion of the bottom portion of the second side being secured to a portion of the bottom portion of the first side, the top portion of the second side being unconnected to the top portion of the first side, and the rear portion of the second side being unconnected to the rear portion of the first side, the unconnected top portions and the unconnected rear portions of the first side and the second side cooperating to form a golf club head-receiving opening, the receiving opening being sized to receive a golf club head being inserted between the first side and the second side; and

tab means to detachably secure a portion of the rear portion of the first side to a portion of the rear portion of the second side to affix the cover to the golf club.

3. The golf club iron cover of claim 2 wherein the first and the second side are each further defined as being formed of a translucent material, a golf club identification numeral being thereby observable through the golf club cover.

4. The golf club iron cover of claim 2 wherein the first side and the second side are each defined further as being integrally formed from a one-piece blank, the blank being foldable along a fold-line, the portion of the blank generally adjacent the fold-line defining the bottom portions of the first side and the second side, in an assembled position of the golf club cover.

5. The golf iron cover of claim 2 wherein the first side is defined further to include, a tongue formed on a portion of the top portion of the first side and extending a distance therefrom, generally adjacent the rear portion of the first side; and wherein the second side is defined further to include, a tongue formed on a portion of the top portion of the second side and extending a distance therefrom, generally adjacent 7 club head being inserted between the first side and the second side.

6. The golf club iron cover of claim 5 wherein the tab means is further defined as being secured to a portion of the tongue of the first side and detachably securaible to a portion of the tongue of the second side. 

1. A golf club iron cover formed from a one-piece blank, said cover having two sides, each of said sides having bottom, top, front and rear portions, said front portions being of a greater dimension than said rear portion, said top portion sloping downwardly from said front portion to said rear portion, fastening means joining said sides adjacent to said front portion, said sides being unconnected along said top portion so that a golf club iron can be inserted between said sides, said sides being integrally and foldably connected at said bottom portions, said cover having tab means to detachably secure said rear portions together to affix said cover to a golf club iron.
 2. A golf club iron cover, to protectively encompass a substantial portion of a golf club head, in an assembled position of the golf club cover, comprising: a first side having a bottom, a top, a front and a rear portion; a second side having a bottom, a top, a front and a rear portion, a portion of the front portion of the second side being secured to a portion of the front portion of the first side, a portion of the bottom portion of the second side being secured to a portion of the bottom portion of the first side, the top portion of the second side being unconnected to the top portion of the first side, and the rear portion of the second side being unconnected to the rear portion of the first side, the unconnected top portions and the unconnected rear portions of the first side and the second side cooperating to form a golf club head-receiving opening, the receiving opening being sized to receive a golf club head being inserted between the first side and the second side; and tab means to detachably secure a portion of the rear portion of the first side to a portion of the rear portion of the second side to affix the cover to the golf club.
 3. The golf club iron cover of claim 2 wherein the first and the second side are each further defined as being formed of a translucent material, a golf club identification numeral being thereby observable through the golf club cover.
 4. The golf club iron cover of claim 2 wherein the first side and the second side are each defined further as being integrally formed from a one-piece blank, the blank being foldable along a fold-line, the portion of the blank generally adjacent the fold-line defining the bottom portions of the first side and the second side, in an assembled position of the golf club cover.
 5. The golf iron cover of claim 2 wherein the first side is defined further to include, a tongue formed on a portion of the top portion of the first side and extending a distance therefrom, generally adjacent the rear portion of the first side; and wherein the second side is defined further to include, a tongue formed on a portion of the top portion of the second side and extending a distance therefrom, generally adjacent the rear portion of the second side, a portion of the tongue of the second side being secured to a portion of the tongue of the first side, the tongues of the first and the second sides each being sized and shaped to cooperate to provide an additional golf club head-receiving opening, the additional golf club head-receiving opening cooperating with the first-mentioned mentioned golf club head-receiving opening to receive a golf club head being inserted between the first side and the second side.
 6. The golf club iron cover of claim 5 wherein the tab means is further defined as being secured to a portion of the tongue of the first side and detachably securable to a portion of the tongue of the second side. 